BlackBerry Storm2 9520 to launch this week; 9550 to be released in November by Verizon?

Verizon and Vodafone seem to have two different game plans when it comes to launching the BlackBerry Storm2. The Guardian is reporting that this week, the latter carrier will be releasing the BlackBerry Storm2 9520, the sequel to the Storm 9500. Like we've seen with videos on the U.S. version of the sequel model, the Storm2 9520 will have an improved SurePress typing system using piezo technology and 4 strategically placed sensors that allow for multi-touch typing. The screen is very responsive and the accelerometer almost reads your mind and shifts the orientation of the display quickly. Also included in the new version of the Storm is Wi-Fi, BlackBerry OS 5.0, threaded texting, and more durable rubber keys on the side. According to the story, Vodafone will offer the 9520 for free with a monthly service plan of at least 30 British Pounds (roughly $48 U.S. Dollars). That prices the Storm2 lower than the 34.26 British Pounds per month plan that O2 is expected to ask for the Palm Pre, launching on October 16th in the U.K. And while last year's launch of Vodafone's Storm 9500 was a disaster, the hardware and software improvements made to the device should allow it to be a competitive player in the market.

Now what about the Verizon BlackBerry Storm2 9550? We have reported that the phone is expected to launch on October 21st. A tipster has just told us that Big Red will not launch the Storm2 in October and that early November is a more plausible date. Remember that Verizon training video we showed you for the Storm2? Our tipster tells us that training classes are usually given to employees 1 to 2 weeks before a launch. The date on the video was October 21st. In addition, the device is not listed on the carrier's rebate forms and another tipster tells us that Verizon will not be training employees on the Storm until November 7th. Considering that last year, everyone complained that RIM and Verizon had rushed out the first-gen model, it probably is better to have patience and let the launch take place when the handset is absolutely, positively ready to go, right out of the box.

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This will be a much better device compared to the outgoing model. I am finding it hard to be interested in this device though. With the launch of so many new operating systems on Big Red the time I will spend in choosing the phone for me is much longer. I am a multimedia addict and expect that the Motorola STD is really what I would want. Though the look and feel of this phone is really wonderful. I just find the operating system so dated and basic. The other thing is that the internals are weak. With phones launching with real powerhouse processing power blackberry feels behind the curve. But they stand and hold a stable and powerful spot in the market delivering solid products overall.

I have second hand / hand off information. Many of my friends still work in a number of our wireless companies here in the US. From what I gather the software has had as much improvement that you see in more recent video reviews. They stated that the phone is much more comfortable to use in general. Though, like me, they are more interested in what the STD has to offer. More than likely the storm will be a phone of choice due to the line of work they need to deal with. As I have stated before though the really large problem I feel blackberry faces is lack of processing power. They have nothing on the market that can match the newer snapdragon winmo phones the IPhone, and pre. I expect the Storm 2 will sell well, just not at the same vigor the original did. I feel with more powerful options arriving this year geared to the non-business sectors that the storm option will have less of a shine. The lack of a physical keyboard can also be a large deterrent when dealing with the average user. Blackberry though in the end has security unmatched in the wireless world. So don’t expect them to hurt too bad. :-)

22.moss500a (unregistered)

Verizon last to put out a new device? I'm astonished. That almost never happens. Unless you count the Curve, the Pre, an Android device, a competent Winmo device, etc. But aside from all those (and touchscreen-they were the last to do that also) they are always at the FOREFRONT of under-whelming hardware. Congrats, Big Red.

Wow. Last? 2nd in US w/ Android. No one else has Pre or WebOS devices besides Sprint. You give no examples of competent WinMo device so I assume like the above two examples you are talking out you a$$ or stupid. Either way congrats on wasting space w/ your response. Congrats shaunieo.

actually were third to get android, and were always behind sprint for all relevant windows mobile devices, and we were last to get the curve. The storm was probaley the only note worthy phone we debuted before anyone else, and now vodaphone has us beat on that, but can't be mad at that, eurpean carriers always come first

Ur a smart one. Congrats on being a cussing idiot. I'll catch up with you later after I go to work. WORK is the thing we "stupid" people do to pay for stuff. STUFF is the things we use to keep ourselves connected to the real world (Not Alabama or Mississippi, or wherever you live). A DEGREE is the thing we earn to get work. One could work as a DENTIST, which is another thing you have probably never seen............

Ur a smart one
You are, not Ur. Words are something us educated people use. Ones with four year degrees from schools with classrooms. Not that we ordered online. A cussing idiot? One word that barely qualifies as profanity. Good deduction. I forgot about Sprint. Either way then we are both wrong because Verizon would be third, not last. So even in your response you still fail. And your blatant generalities about southern states shows more about you than me. Would you like to see my teeth? Almost perfect. And VZW is scheduled to be either 2nd or 3rd with WebOS. Neither of those numbers indicate last. I did not refute the statement about VZW getting the Curve last. And what WinMo phones have T-Mo or Sprint received consistently before VZW in the last year? Didn't they all get TouchPro2 around same time? Did VZW not get it before AT&T? Was the Omnia not a high rated WinMo phone that VZW got exclusive? I'm sure you could list a couple they did not get but a statement implying they ALWAYS get phones last is wrong. So good job. So go back to your job making $12 and enjoy you STUFF. What school did you get your degree from? Just want to make sure my kid or family do not go there.

And the basis of your original comment was because the article states a "tipster" informed them that the Storm2 will not launch on VZW until Nov. Well Crackberry.com has a "tipster" who provided some form of proof that it will launch Oct. 21st. I don't know who is right but just based on the average reporting accuracy of each site I would trust Crackberry every time. But that's just something educated people do called logical reasoning and deduction. You should see if University of Phoenix has a class on it you can take once you finish up the rest of your courses.

The Storm 2 I can gaurantee won't be out prior to the launch date of the last one. And give all those customers a 1yr upgrade pricing on people who bought the original model. They don't want to release it before and deal with an abundance of escalations and phone calls, just because someone wants a new one. "Or feel they are entitled". Vodafone launched theirs a month before Verizon last year, and it seems it's a repeat of the same as this year. I could of sworn Vodfone launched the phone Oct 15th last year, then 5 weeks after that date. Verizon launched they're version.
Seems in line with what happened last year if they are going to launch the UK version this week. . I don't see why their would be any difference this year. I guess that's my opinion. Anyon agree?

I agree Sin,
They will probably release it friday which is the Oct. 16th this year, and Verizon will probably launch Nov. 20th. That would make sense to me also. That's only a day before they're launch dates last year.

I am not sure. My Sup is walking around w/ a Storm2. It is loaded in VZW system it just says quantity not avail. I don't know for certain but I expect it to be out sometime Oct. And I expect their to be a lot of calls. I would hate to be a CSR or a Sup during the first few weeks it is out, especially if it launches before the one year mark of the original.

I think it will be a much better phone (sans the weak graphics), but I've not been impressed with the BB OS. Compared with iphone, pre, or android it seems like the weakest. I know RIM is trying to grab some non-business users, but they are going to have to release an OS that will let developers get as creative as they have with the iphone. If I thought the apps on the BB would be on par with that of iphone I'd be penciling that Storm2 release date as we speak.

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